The Daily Valet. - 11/14/19, Thursday
✔️ Revelations, Flying Buildings and Puppies
Thursday, November 14th Edition
I want a flying builing. And I want the puppy at the end of this newsletter.
Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf
Today’s Big Story
Impeachment Hearings Start With a Bang
The testimonies open with new revelations
The first day of public impeachment hearings unearthed new evidence potentially implicating President Trump more directly, reports the Washington Post. Bill Taylor, the top American diplomat in Ukraine, brought to life Democrats’ allegations that Trump had abused his office by trying to enlist a foreign power to help him in an election.
The revelation centered on an undisclosed phone call between Trump and Gordon Sondland, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union, on July 26—the day after the now infamous call with the Ukrainian president. A staffer heard Trump ask Sondland about “the investigations,” and Sondland replied that the Ukrainians were ready to move forward.
“Following the call with President Trump, the member of my staff asked Ambassador Sondland what President Trump thought about Ukraine,” Taylor said. “Ambassador Sondland responded that President Trump cares more about the investigations of Biden, which Giuliani was pressing for.”
George Kent, a deputy assistant secretary at the State Department, also testified on Wednesday. His opening statement adhered closely to what he told impeachment investigators behind closed doors last month, but it reflected his concerns about Rudy Giuliani’s shadow State Department, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Kent testified he became aware this summer that Giuliani’s efforts to prompt Ukraine to pursue investigations into Trump’s political rivals were “infecting” Washington’s relationship with Kyiv.
These revelations were hard to counter, but Republicans tried to defend the president by stating that Trump did eventually provide the aid in question and followed up with questions like "This irregular channel of diplomacy is not as outlandish as it could be, is that correct?"
What Apple Watch Is Teaching Us About Our Hearts
An unprecedented study suggests the smart watch can help detect heart problems
The results of what researchers are calling the first "virtual study of its kind" were published in the New England Journal of Medicine Wednesday, the product of a collaboration between Apple and Stanford Medical Center.
The study used Apple sensors to detect the amount of blood flowing through the wrists of more than 419,000 Apple Watch users to check for an abnormal heartbeat called atrial fibrillation, and then delivered that information to those users via their iPhones and watches.
Atrial fibrillation affects about six million people in the United States alone, and many do not know that they have it, reports CNBC. It can also be potentially detected by using sensors and algorithms, which makes it a prime target for wearable device makers. Notably, the study did not use the most recent Apple Watch, which includes an electrocardiogram sensor that monitors the heart’s rhythm.
But it's certainly a promising start to the benefits of wearable technology. And speaks to why Google paid over $2 billion to acquire Fitbit earlier this month.
↦ Buy: Apple Watch Series 5, from $399 at Apple
“Really love what you’re doing here. And thanks for for putting me on to ‘Succession.’ Gonna start the show tonight, drink some bourbon and then smash.” - Wesley* We’ve got some spirited subscribers, which is why we want you spreading the word. Stay tuned for details.
Airborne Architecture Is Coming (Maybe)
Will we really get flying buildings before flying cars?
When you run out of space in a city, the only place you can go is up. And that's the plan if you ask Georges Kachaamy, director of the Center for Research, Innovation and Design at the American University in Dubai.
His "Rising Oases" project, more than a decade in development, is one of the star attractions on display at Dubai Design Week from November 11-16, reports CNN. The plan imagines a future in which there are "platforms inside the city where humans can unwire themselves from their daily restraints."
So how exactly will they float above us? The current thinking is that they'll make use of magnetic levitation. Sometimes shortened to "maglev," it works by lifting an object through the force of two opposed magnets. This is the same technology being used for the Hyperloop. You gotta admit, they look pretty dang cool and could make for some impressive changes to a city's skyline, but are we really going to get flying buildings before we get flying cars?
Colin Kaepernick Gets an NFL Workout
But is this really a legit shot at a comeback?
It has been just over 1,000 days since Colin Kaepernick, the embattled and ousted quarterback, last played in the NFL, according to The Ringer. And there's been no reason to believe he'd ever return to professional football. The once-electrifying player who has a Super Bowl appearance on his resume, became a lightning rod for taking a knee to protest social injustice during the national anthem.
Three years passed and no teams called. Only players, activists, socially aware fans, and athletes from other sports have advocated for him to rejoin the NFL. But now, it seems, he's one step closer.
Kaepernick got notice from the NFL on Tuesday that a private workout has been arranged for him on Saturday in Atlanta. All 32 NFL teams—those same teams that have refused to sign him following the anthem controversy—will be invited to the Atlanta Falcons facility to witness a series of drills on the field as well as an interview.
But many are starting to wonder whether the whole exercise is a publicity stunt, reports NPR. Kaepernick's reps initially asked for the workout to be moved to a later day after getting the short notice, but were told that it must be this Saturday. I guess we'll just have to see what comes of this.
Other Things We’re Talking About Today
+
A Unicorn, But Make It a Puppy
The lovable rescue is garnering all the heart eyes for his extra tail
This good boy, who happens to have a tail growing from the middle of his furry forehead, was abandoned in Missouri and left wandering in the cold.
Thankfully, rescue organization Mac's Mission found the pup, took him in and had him examined. Turns out, there's absolutely nothing wrong with the little guy. He just happens to carry a spare tail. They posted to social media and soon enough, the pup was trending on Twitter and garnering tons of questions from around the world. No, the tail doesn't wag but there doesn't seem to be a reason to remove it either.
The shelter named him Narwhal, and will keep an eye on his development over the next few weeks, but then he'll be up for adoption. But be warned: Side effects of adopting Narwhal include a melting heart and letting this little guy get away with just about anything.
↦ Want to Help? Consider donating to Mac's Mission.
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Morning Motto
The good news is that this is true. It’s also, ironically, the bad news too.
↦ Follow: @third.eye.thought
That’s all for today...
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